by Elle James
Matt couldn’t believe he was in a dark closet, stripping this stranger, who wasn’t a stranger at all. He swept his hands over her back, found the clasps on the back of her bra and released them. She shimmied out of the straps, letting it fall to the floor between them.
Then it was a frenetic struggle to get her out of her shoes, jeans and panties.
Standing before him, naked in the dark, she cupped his crotch, still covered in denim, and squeezed lightly. “You’re overdressed for this clandestine operation,” she whispered.
“That can be remedied,” he said. When he reached for the zipper on his jeans, she brushed his hand aside and lowered it herself.
His erection sprang free into the palm of her hand. He’d gone commando. She smiled, wrapped her fingers around him and slid her hand down his length.
Matt tensed.
She let go of him and wrapped her hands around his hips, sliding her fingers beneath the denim to capture his buttocks in her hands. Pulling him closer, she rubbed the furry mound of her center against his staff, while shoving his jeans down to his thighs.
He grabbed the wallet out of his back pocket, flicked it open and dug inside, praying he had protection stored there. When his fingers contacted the foil packet, he let go of the breath he’d been holding. With his teeth, he tore open the pouch and handed the condom to her.
She rolled it over him with both hands and downward, until he was fully encased. Aubrey placed her hands over his shoulders.
Matt bent, his hands circled her thighs and he lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. He captured one of her breasts between his teeth and rolled the tip until it firmed into a tight bead. Flicking it with his tongue, he made her moan and arch her back, forcing more of the luscious mound into his mouth. He obliged, sucking in as much as he could.
He lowered her slowly until his staff pressed against her entrance, nudging her. “Are you sure?”
She moaned. “Yessss.” Aubrey lowered herself onto him, taking him fully into her slick channel.
Matt eased into her until he was fully sheathed and held steady, allowing her to adjust to his girth. She was so tight, wet and warm.
Aubrey raised up on him and lowered herself down again.
He pressed her against the wall and slid in and out, increasing the rhythm of his thrusts until he was pumping in and out of her.
Tension built and spread throughout his body until he could contain himself no longer. Matt shot over the edge, his shaft pulsing with his release.
Her palms captured his face and tilted it upward. Her lips found his in the darkness and she kissed him while she rode him all the way through to the end.
He held her tight, kissing her, making love to her, wishing it could go on forever.
A sound outside the door made him freeze.
“Did you hear that?” Aubrey whispered so softly only he could hear.
“I did.” He lifted her off him and set her on her feet. Then he zipped his jeans and bent to retrieve the gun out of the pocket of his leather jacket.
Easing the door open a crack, he looked out into the revival hall.
Nothing stirred. No one moved.
With the little light coming through the crack in the door, he retrieved their clothes, handing Aubrey’s to her.
He threw on his shirt and jacket and returned to the crack in the door. “Stay here,” he whispered.
Matt slipped out of the back of the pantry into the kitchen and pushed through the swinging door into the open bay of the revival hall. A mop lay on the floor near the wall. It hadn’t been there when Matt and Aubrey had come through earlier. It had a dark oily residue on the strands’ cotton coils.
The oil spill in the middle of the floor was gone, along with the black tire tracks.
Matt moved along the wall to the opposite end of the building and nudged the door open. The yard surrounding the revival hall and the church was empty. The men were gone, leaving them alone.
Matt returned to the pantry.
Aubrey was fully clothed, peering out of the crack in the door.
“All clear,” he said. “They’re gone.”
She fell into his arms. “I don’t like it when you go off without me.”
“I don’t like leaving you,” he said, holding her close. “But I’d rather you stayed safe than catch a bullet.”
“And I’d rather this was all over and we could lead a normal life.” She buried her face in his shirt for another moment and then straightened. “It’ll be getting dark soon. We need to get to the sheriff and see if they’ve made any progress.”
“Here’s hoping they’ve picked up their trail.”
“I’m afraid for that little girl. We have to find her tonight. Otherwise, they could take her anywhere and we’d never find her.”
He tipped her chin up. “We’ll find her. I promise,” he said, praying he could keep that promise. “And when this all over, we’ll get to that normal life you talk about. As long as normal includes me seeing you again.”
She smiled and laid her hand on his cheek. “Somehow, I don’t see a life with you being all that normal. And I’m okay with that. A few less bullets would be nice, but I’ll risk some of those, as long as I get to see you again.”
He kissed her briefly on the lips. “You’re on.”
They exited the revival hall and hurried back to where they’d left the motorcycle hidden in the bush.
Matt wasn’t sure how they’d find the little girl or where. The only thing he was one hundred percent sure of was that he wanted to see Aubrey again. What they’d just experienced was the beginning of something big. Something he never thought he’d ever have in his life. A connection so deep he was willing to risk his life to be with her.
Chapter Thirteen
Aubrey wrapped her arms around Matt’s waist and pressed her body against his as she rode back to Whiskey Gulch on the back of his motorcycle.
What had just happened back there at the church was something she hadn’t expected and would never have dreamed of. With the ink barely dry on her divorce papers, she’d just made love to a man after coming close to being discovered and possibly killed.
The fear and the exhilaration of living through the terror had heightened her desire. Never in her marriage had she ever made love like that, standing in a darkened pantry, overcome with longing. Nor had she made love anywhere else but in a bedroom.
Sex against the wall was... Amazing.
Her arms tightened around the man who’d taken her to the next level of intimacy. There was so much more she wanted to do with him, but they had a mission to accomplish, a child to reunite with her sister and uncle. Their focus had to be on the task at hand, not on making love in the pantry of a revival hall.
She was deliciously sore, her nipples were tender and she was achy in all the right places. All those feelings had to be set aside as they pulled into the parking lot of the sheriff’s office.
Several sheriff’s service vehicles were parked there, as well.
Aubrey dismounted and waited for Matt to join her. He held out his hand. She took it and they walked into the sheriff’s office together.
The sheriff stood in the front of the office, talking to Deputy Jones and another deputy Aubrey didn’t know, but had seen in town.
When the sheriff saw them, he waved them forward. “Hennessey, Ms. Blanchard, I’m glad you’re here.”
“Have you had any luck locating the cartel hideout?” Matt asked. “Did you bring in the ATVers?”
The sheriff frowned. “I sent some unmarked cars out to the location you gave us, and they came up empty. Those men know this area and must have used off-road trails. We’re still on it, though.” He huffed out a sigh before continuing.
“I spoke with Trace Travis. He said you’d made a trip out to the correctional facility to see Marcus Davids
on. Was he of any assistance?”
“Maybe,” Matt said.
“He gave us two possible locations,” Aubrey said. “One we’ve already checked out.”
Matt picked up the story, filling in the details he’d left out of his text message. “The Hilltop Church north of town. We went there and discovered they’d been there, as I told you. Like you noted from the racehorse barn, the truck they’d been using leaked oil. There was a puddle of oil in the revival hall and black tire marks on the concrete. While we were there, four men speaking Spanish showed up and cleaned up the oil and tire tracks.”
“Anything indicating the girl was there or with them?”
Aubrey’s cheeks burned. They hadn’t followed the men because they’d been busy making love in the pantry. Now she wished they’d gone after the crew instead of trusting the sheriff’s office to find them.
“No,” Matt answered. “They were heavily armed and all I had was a handgun. We waited until they left and came straight here after I sent you the text.”
The sheriff nodded, acknowledging that was the right course of action.
“Marcus said they’d probably be shipping their cargo out tonight,” Aubrey said. “However they decide to do it. He suspects it will be by train.”
“Since you have all of the highways being watched coming in and going out of the area, it makes the most sense,” Matt said.
The sheriff nodded again. “Then all I need to do is put my people on the train track and stop any trains leaving here until we inspect each car.”
Matt frowned. “Sounds too easy. I can’t imagine anything going that smoothly. These guys have been operating in the area for a while. I think that’s why my mother was murdered. She was providing a hiding place for those who got loose from the cartel trafficking. They shut her down.”
“And if you continue to hinder their operation,” the sheriff said, “they’ll try to shut you two down, as well.” He shook his head.” You might want to step back from this case.”
Matt’s lips firmed. “Can’t.”
Aubrey slipped her hand into his. “Won’t. If there’s a way we can help free that little girl, we’re going to do it.”
“Okay then. I’ll position a few more of my people on the railroad tracks. There are a couple of abandoned buildings at the old switchyard. I’ll personally lead a team through to see if they’ve staged their cargo. In the meantime, why don’t you get some rest? You must be exhausted.”
Matt shook his head and squeezed Aubrey’s hand. “We’ll grab a bite to eat at the diner and get back out to look for Isabella.”
“Okay,” the sheriff said. “Let me know where you’re heading so my guys don’t mistake you for the cartel and shoot you.”
“Thank you, sir.” Matt said.
Aubrey waited until they were outside of the sheriff’s office before she said, “I’m not really hungry.”
“You might not be, but I am.” He smiled. “I’ll get a burger to go. We can split it and eat it as we’re driving through the county looking for abandoned buildings.”
She glanced at the sun slipping into the horizon and sinking lower by the minute. “We don’t have much time left. They’re going to make their move tonight. I feel it.”
“Me too,” he said.
They mounted his motorcycle and headed to the diner, where Matt ordered a hamburger cut in half to take with them.
They had just stepped outside the diner into the shadowy gray of dusk, when a loud explosion shook the ground. A plume of smoke and fire rose from the southern end of town.
Matt reached his arm around Aubrey and pulled her close, his heart pounding against his ribs. Loud sounds like that reminded him too much of his days in Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of Marine Force Recon. Flashbacks of attacks and being under siege made his pulse race uncontrollably.
“Isn’t that the direction of your mother’s house?” Aubrey’s voice brought him back to Whiskey Gulch, Texas. He wasn’t in the Middle East, nor was he in Marine Force Recon anymore.
Matt studied the direction of the rising smoke. “Yes it is.”
“Do you think...” Aubrey’s voice trailed off.
“That the cartel have targeted the house of angels again?” His jaw firmed and lips pressed into a tight line. “I wouldn’t put it past them.”
“Why?” Aubrey’s eyes filled.
“As a warning?”
“Your mother’s place was lovely and peaceful.” Aubrey grabbed for her helmet and slipped it over her head.
“Before the coyotes and the cartel discovered it was sheltering people they’d targeted.” Matt jammed on his helmet and straddled the motorcycle. He patiently waited for Aubrey to get on with him.
She slid her leg over the back, wrapped her arms around his waist and held on as Matt raced through town. As she neared Maple Street, her heart sank. She knew it would be the place she’d called home for the past few months. But the reality of seeing Matt’s mother’s home burn to the ground was more difficult knowing Matt was seeing it, too.
Matt stopped at the end of the street, far enough out of range of the flames and any more explosions that could occur whether set by the cartel or the gas line igniting.
Aubrey dismounted the motorcycle and pulled off the helmet.
Matt did the same and stood staring at the demise of a part of his childhood.
Aubrey slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow and pressed her cheek against his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s just a house,” he said, his voice rough like he’d swallowed gravel.
She nodded, knowing it was much more than just a house. It held memories of his mother and their lives together.
The wail of sirens sounded from the fire station and soon the fire engine and rescue trucks arrived. Aubrey stayed by the motorcycle while Matt crossed to the first responders.
The roar of the fire burning and the rumble of the fire engine truck drowned out the sound of other engines until too late.
Three ATVs burst out of the woods and raced straight for Aubrey.
She turned in time to see them heading for her.
Aubrey took off running, heading toward Matt and the firefighters.
One of the ATV riders cut her off, reached out and grabbed her arm. He yanked her off-balance, turned into her and pulled her across his lap.
Aubrey flailed and screamed but couldn’t find leverage to push herself up or roll out of the man’s grip.
His partners fired shots from their weapons and flanked the ATV with Aubrey on it.
Aubrey tried to scream and kick but lying on her belly across the man’s lap and the ATV gas tank meant that every bump they hit, the air was knocked from her lungs.
She was carried away from the burning building, into the woods as darkness cloaked the land. One particularly hard bump made her head hit something solid. Her vision blurred and finally blended into the blackness around her.
* * *
WHEN AUBREY’S SCREAM sounded over the noise of the fire engine, burning inferno and men shouting instructions, Matt turned back to where he’d left her, standing by his motorcycle.
That’s when the men on ATVs stormed in, grabbed her and took off, firing their military-grade rifles into the crowd of first responders.
“Get down!” Matt cried out. While the others dropped to the ground, Matt ran toward the men taking Aubrey. He headed straight for them, regardless of their weapons. He didn’t give a damn if they shot him. Aubrey was his concern. They had her and they would kill her if he didn’t get her back immediately. He couldn’t fire his handgun at them for fear of hitting Aubrey.
No matter how fast he ran, their four-wheelers were faster, taking them into the shadows of the woods. He continued running until he could see them no more.
His lungs burned with the need to breathe and his mu
scles screamed at how hard he’d pushed. He bent over, dragging in deep lungfuls of air, cursing and hating himself for leaving her alone for even a minute. She was gone, and he’d let it happen.
Matt pulled out his cell phone and called 911. “Get me the sheriff. Now!”
The dispatcher patched him into the sheriff’s number.
“They blew up my house on Maple Street.”
“I wondered what the explosion was all about,” the sheriff responded.
“Sheriff, they got Aubrey.”
The sheriff swore. “We’re on our way in from the rail yard.”
“What good does it do to come to the fire? They took her into the woods. We have to find where they’re hiding before they kill her. You know they will.” After doing horrible things to her first, he thought, his stomach turning at the idea.
“We’re on our way. We’ll track them through the woods. We’ll find her.”
Matt wasn’t so sure. He ended the call and hit the speed dial for Trace. When his brother answered, he said, “I need your help.”
“You’ve got it,” Trace said.
“They have Aubrey.”
“We’re on our way into town,” Trace said. “Where should we meet?”
“Maple Street. They blew up my mother’s house.”
“Are you okay?” Trace asked.
“No. They have Aubrey,” Matt said. “Nothing’s okay.” He ended the call and walked back to his motorcycle.
Five minutes later, the sheriff arrived in his service vehicle followed by an unmarked dark sedan.
The sheriff and deputy got out and hurried toward Matt as two men in street clothes exited the dark sedan and joined him.
“Matthew Hennessey, this is FBI Special Agent Mitch McCall and DEA agent Will Knowlton.” He turned to the fire. “They set up a distraction.”
“Seems extreme to go to all this trouble to kidnap a woman.”
Will Knowlton shook his head. “They’re sending a message to anyone who might consider helping their human product escape, as well as those who are considering escape.”